Donacloney Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 NI Charity Commission Registration No: 105113
Donacloney Congregatlon of the Presbyterlan Church in Ireland Contents Page Contents TrUStS Annual Report Independent Examiner's report Statement of Congregational Commltt io statement of Financial Attivities li Balance sheet 12 Notes to the financial statements 13-16 The following pages do not fomi part of the Financial Statements Detsiled Statement of Finanaal Attivities 17-21 Page 1
Donacloney Congregation of the Presbyterlan Church in Zreland Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DAILs Donacloney Congregation of the pbYterian Church tn [land 56 Moygannon Road Donaghcloney CRAIGAVON BT66 7PN Registered Charity in Northem Ireland (NIC 105113) CHARrrY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who seNed durlng the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were: Gilbert Alexander Errol McDowell Brian Turkington Wayne Buttery Adrian Moffett Ian Williams Richard Fleming George Stevenson Desmond Hilary William Thompson PFUNCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Clerk of Session Treasurer Adrian Moffett lan Williams Ian Willlams INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS JL Grant Independent Examiners 216 Ballymena Road Doaoh Ballyclare BT39 OTP BANKERS Danske Bank Donegall Square West Belfast BTI 6JS Page 2
Donacloney Congregatlon of the Presbyterian Church In Ireland Trustees Annual Report ctd... for the year ended 31 December 2023 STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT The Kirk Session The charity trustees of the congregatlon are the members of Its Kirk Session. Under the COnggatIon.S governing document, The Cthje, the book of the constitution and government of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Klrk Session seeks to watch over and promote the spiritLJal interest of the congregation and of persons not connected with any congregation who are within its bounds. It ensures pastoral care is in pla in the cOnggatIon and seeks to further the contribution of the Church to Christian witness and Servi in the local community. The Kirk Sesslon has delegated to its Congregational Committee the temt)oral affairs of the congregation including administerlng all funds and property belonging to the congregation. Members of the Kirk Session are ex-officio members of the Congregational Committee. The Kirk Session consists of the ordained minister and the ruling elders of the congregation. All members are entitled to propose, speak and exercise equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderator, the minister in attive duty in the congregation. has no deliberative but only a castlng vote. Stated meetlngs of the Kirk session are held in January, April. August and October. To be chosen for the office of the eldership in the congregation a person must be a voting member and a regular attendant on its ordinances. The selettion of those proposed to be called to the office can be either by the congregation or by the Kirk Sesslon. Members are eletted if they obtsin two-thirds of those who vote when the name of the member is put to the voting members of the congregatlon. Presbytery Under the form of governance of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the corporate oversight of a congregatlon is the responsibility of a Presbytery. The Presbytery superintends generally the spirltual and temporal affairs of the congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The membershlp of the Presbytery consists mainly of the active ministers of congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly. minsters who have retired from attive duty and representative elders, each of whom Is appointed by the Kirk Session of a congregation assigned to the PSbYtery by the General Assembly. Donacloney Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has been assigned to the Iveagh Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The General Assembly The General Assembly is the supreme court of the Church, representing in one body the whole Church and atting as its supreme legislative, administrative and judicial authorlty, In dealing with all matters brought before it. The General Assembly normally is constituted during the third week in June for worshlp and to condutt its business. At the end of business it is dissolved. The membership of the General Assembly consists mainly of the attive ministers of each congregation, retired minsters and a representative elder appointed by the Klrk Session of each congregation. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE Donacloney Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in [land. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, as a Refornied Church within the wider body of Christ is grounded in the Scriptures, and exists to love and honour God through faith in His Son and by the power of His Spirit, and to enable her members to play their part in fulfilling God s mission to His world. The charitable purpose of the congregation is the advancement of religion. The congregation's mission is to sende its community. society and the world. in the Name of Chrlst, for the advancement of His Kingdom. Page 3
Donacloney Congregation of the Presbyterlan Church In Ireland Trustees Annual Report ctd... for the year ended 31 December 2023 AcfIvITIES AND OBJEcfIvES Donacloney Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland seeks to pursue its mlsslon in the following ways: In its visible presence By the encouraging and equlpplng of its members Through organisations for children and young people and organised events By providing for the work of others In co-operation with other churches ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Visible Presence Donacloney Presbyterian Church normally meets every Sunday as a church family made up of all sorts of families with a warm welcome to visitors to the congregation. The congregation regularly meets each Sunday at 11.30am and, on the last Sunday of each month, at 6.30pm. When it meets, the congregation expresses its praise of Almighty God, engages in prayer and, through the reading of and pachIng from the Bible, hears afresh the call to believe the Christian Gospel and to live in accordance with the Chrfstian faith. The Sacftment of the Lord's Supper was observed three times in 2023. all those who have been baptised and who have made a profession of faith In the Lord Jesus Chrlst are admltted to the Lord's Supper. At 31st December 2023 there were 93 communicant members of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland on the roll of the congregation and a total of 155 families connected with the congregation. Donacloney Presbyteriars Church has its own meetlnghouse, church hall and graveyard. These are maintained by members of the cOnggatIon. In 2023, teams In monthly rotation kept the graveyard tidy and volunteers cleaned the meetinghouse and church hall, on rota and in special efforts. Such efforts, the regular Sunday gatherings, the special services at Harvest time and Christmas, and the onllne ministry that continued weekly until the end of August 2022, rn1nd the community of the presence of the church in its midst. Also. in 2023, the church hall was used by the local general medical practlce for vaccination cllnics. Encouraging and Equipping As a church, Donacloney cOnggation recognises that It needs to do rn0 than Just be present if it is to serve its community, society and the world in the Name of Christ for the advancement of His kingdom. Its members encourage one another, and help one another be equipped, to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their everyday occupations. When the congregation gathed each week in 2023, it focused first on the call to 'just believe. that emerges from the Gospel of Mark's presentation of the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. The congregation also was encouraged, in its studies in the Acts of the Apostles, to make the most of every opportunity to share the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ. Further studies in the Gospel Mark emphasised how the Lord Jesus Christ is above all. In a number of Sunday morning gatherings, the congregation was led to consider what the Bible teaches concerning the qualifscations and duties of the eldership. Subsequently, two ruling elders were eletted, ordained and installed to the oversight of the congregatlon. A 2023 came towards its close, readings in the Prophecy of Micha provided a basis for the celebration of the Shepherd Hope which lies at the heart of the Christian faith. The conggatIOn'S Sunday School and Junior Bible Cla55 continued throughout the year. At the end of 2023, 12 children were enrolled in Sunday School and 4 young people in Bible Class. Eight young people were associated with the Sunday evening youth fellowship. Members of the Youth Fellowship participated at a wlder level, including the "Follow" course organised under the auspices of PCI'S Genera; Assembly The Tuesday Fellowship provides an opportunity for members each wk to meet together for fellowship, to study the Scriptures and to pray. The monthly Ladies, Group also provided encouragement and equipping to those who attended and provided a venue for friendship and Page 4
Donacloney Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Trustees Annual Report ctd... for the year ended 31 December 2023 A5 well a5 these ways of equipping and encouraglng one another, members of the ConggatiOft are also encouraged into falth and service by the mlnister. The congregation recognises, however, that all its members a called to seThTe in the Name of Chrlst for the advanrnent of HIS kingdom. Organlsatlons & Organlsed Events The 1st Donacloney Boys. Brigade Company and the 219th Nl (Donacloney Presbyterian) Company of the Girl's Brigade operate under the oversight of the Kirk Sesslon of Donacloney Presbyterian Church. These organisations follow the programmes devised by the Boys, Brigade in Northern Ireland and GBNI respectively to address the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of the lives of children and young people. At the end of 2023, there were 63 girls and 11 leaders enrolled In the congregation's GB Companyi and 65 boys and 10 leaders enrolled In Its BB Company. The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreclation of those who give freely of their time by serving on committees and helping with organlsatlons and other church attivitles. Providing for Work of Others Donacloney congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland seeks to senie beyond the reach of its own members. The conggatIOn supports Dr Suresh and Mrs Roja Vemulapalli In their work with Indian Vlllage Ministries and forwarded £300 to this work from the Midweek Fellowship Fund. Gifts of £500 were given to each of Asia Link, the Belfast City Mission, the Faith Mission, Good News for Everyone, the London City Mission, the Messianic Mission, Mission Africa, New Tribe5 Mlsslon, the Revlval Movement Association, the Seamen's Christian Friend Society, the Slavic Gospel Mission and Wycliffe Bible Translatots from the congregation's main account. In addition. £873 was donated to the PCI World Development Appeal and £510 to the Presbyterian Children's Society and £700 to a special appeal for those affetted by the earthquake In Turkey and Syria in February The congregation provlded In other ways too. Non-perishable foodstuffs We donated by members of the congregation throughout the month of October and forwarded to the Via Wings charlty in Dromore. Christmas gifts were parcelled up in shoeboxes for the Samaritsn's Purse 'Operation Christmas Child.. Members of the congregation helped to supply cakes, biscuits and other pastries for the CEF Mourne Area Christian Youth in Attion Team, and for its Intes-camp. Throughout the year, the. the congreoation provided for the work of others for the advancement of Christs Kingdom. In Co-operatlon with Other Churches Donacloney Presbyterian Church is one congregation of one Reformed Church in the wider Body of Christ. It seeks to fulfil its mission in co-operation with other churche5 and congTegation5 where appropriate. A week of special services was held from I Ith - 15th April 2022 in conjunction with Donacloney Parish (Church of Ireland), Donacloney Elim Church, Donacloney Methodist Church and Waringstown Presbyterian Church. The churches in Donacloney also prayed and worked together In relation to special efforts in outreach, under the title "Donacloney Together." These special efforts included a "Band Nighv and a "Quiz Night" held in Donacloney Presbyterian Church Hall and gift and literature distribution during the village's "Christmas Light Switch-On- event. The churches also came together for a special service following the demise of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth Il. The church hall was used a5 the venue for Nexus, a work among older teenagers organised by young leaders from various churches in the area. The congregation hosted the annual praise senii for the Bann District of the Girl'5 Brigade in Northern Ireland, and the annual united evening service and mlsslon in Ireland rally for Iveagh Presbytery. The minister and representative elders of the congregation participate fijlly In the work of p$bytery and the meetlngs of the General Assembly. Other members of the congregation glve their support to events arranged by neighbouring churches. Members of the congation,S Ladies, Group also welcomed visitors from. and went as visitors to, other church's women's Page S
Donacloney Congregation of the Presbyterian Church In Ireland Trustees Annual Report ctd... for the year ended 31 Deomber 2023 PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Presbyterian Church in Ireland meets trhe public benefit requirement by providing benefit to its members and the general public by making known the Christian Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the advanment of rellgion. The dirert benefits which flow from the purposes of the Church Include the galnlng of an understsnding In Christian beliets as set out in the Bible and in the Church's subordinate standards (the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Shorter and Larger Catechlsms) leadlng to spiritua and moral development and opportunities for response to Bible teaching. In turn, this framework leads to prattlcal expressions of Christian beliefs and stsndards in the local community such as through the care of those in need (including the sick, disabled and beVed). Generally the above beneflts are dellvered locally by congregations and their members, or a facilitated through presbyteries or are organised and delivered ntrally. Local delivery is facilltated by central resouros in almost all cases. Public access is made known through the use of noticeboards, printed material, press advertlsement, websites, and social media or In other ways. The benefits are demonstrated through regular evaluation of the *rVI and infonnal and ad-hoc feedback from members, their families, and members of the public. The purpose does not lead to harm. The only private benefit flowing from our purpose is related to Ministers, Misslonaries, Deaconesses, Irish Mission workers and Lay Agents who receive benefits as a sUIt of their holding Offi or employment. This, however. is incidental and necessary in order to further our charitsble purpose. There are no other private benefits. The beneficiaries of this purpose are members, their families, other indlviduals with whom the Presbyterian Church In Ireland is in direct and indirect contart, the community in which pastoral services are provided and other communities throughout Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland. and worldwide which benefit from our engagement with, and support for. both Christian and other secular organisations, charities and individual members of the public. The Klrk Session has had regard to the Charity Commlssions Public benefit requlrement statutory guidance. FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of Income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 120 contributors during the year (128 in previous year, 2022) donating a totsl of £89,521 {£104,078 In previous year). Total Income of the congregation during the year was £146,922 compared to £147,332 in the pviouS year. Total expenditure decased from £191,482 to £140,752. The decrease in expenditu in part is because of a major capital projert in 2022. This work entsiled two projects. one to remodel the meeting-house annexe and the other to repla the Church Hall stage with a store for chairs and tables. For both of these projects, the greater part of the expenditure occurred in the last financial year., but each required a degree of expendlture in 2023 as well. The Congregational Committee is grateful for all those who have continued to contribute to the churches funds throughout 2023. Page 8
Donacloney Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Trustees Annual Report ctd... for the year ended 31 December 2023 STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES The Trustees are sponSible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements of the congregation In accordan with applicable law and generally accepted accounting practi. As the congregation's total income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Settlon 64(3) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 to prepare a receipts and payment account and a statement of assets and liabilities. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the congregation's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any tlme its financial position. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the congregation and hen for taklng reasonable steps for the pVentIOn and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Kirk Session at a meetlng on Wednesday 21 August 2024 and signed on Its behalf by Ian Willlams Adrlan Moffett Date., Date: 2b.io. Page 7